Archive for the ‘Parenting’ Category

Before I get to this letter, there are some things I want to say. I’ve never been the type of blogger who wrote an open letter to her kids. Maybe I didn’t have the words. Or maybe I needed the distance between parenting little kids to where I am now. Whatever the reason, today, thank you for allowing me to be that type of blogger…

Where have the years gone. It’s hard for me to believe that I have been a mother for more than a dozen years now.

Once you relied on me for everything, now you are capable of so much on your own. I see it in our interactions. Our relationship has deepened. (more…)

Have you ever picked up your tween’s phone and tried to decipher what in the world they were attempting to communicate through a text? Or maybe you received a text from them and couldn’t make heads or tails of the acronyms. Well, the good news is you aren’t alone. The bad news is that you have to become bilingual to understand ‘txtspk’, or ‘text speak’ for all you beginners. (more…)

Recently, I’ve seen quite a bit of debate about homework and the effects it has on our children. Just in the past week I’ve read this newspaper article, and upon doing further research, I found this Stanford news article equally interesting.

I have to admit, as a parent I feel strange when my teenager or my tween comes home with no homework. I ask, “Well, did you do it all in class?” or “Any project you can work ahead on?” Instead, I probably should be savoring those days and letting them enjoy their free time without interrogation. I was raised with the perception that All homework is good homework! Homework is necessary! You won’t learn without homework!

My seventh grader attends a progressive school where they do not believe that all homework is good. In fact, their view is that an aggressive approach to homework can result in a negative view of learning in general. That’s right, homework may cause kids to hate learning. (more…)

Have you ever opened the refrigerator or your pantry and wondered where all the food is going? Or why your kids are eating you out of house and home? Well, I do, daily! Having a tween and a teen, both boys, I decided it was time to see if there’s any science behind this, and how I can help them make healthy choices. (more…)

Do you tell your kids how much money you make? According to an article in the New York Times, maybe you should. It may just help them understand the value of a dollar. The author writes:

“Money is a source of mystery to children. They sense its power, so they ask questions, lots of them, over many years…shielding children from the realities of everyday financial life makes little sense anymore, given the responsibilities their generation will face…”

The article goes on to share stories from parents who have all decided to talk openly with their kids about their family finances, including how much they earned. One dad even went as far as to withdraw his month’s salary, in cash, from the bank so he could show the kids how the money got distributed. He separated the money into piles showing them how much went to bills, groceries, etc. That’s serious dedication to a lesson.

“Hustle, hustle, hustle,” she snapped. Her son was dawdling again. His lunch was not in his bag, his shoes were not on his feet, his homework was still laying on the table and the bus would be at the stop in three minutes.

Community service projects are a wonderful way for kids to feel involved, helpful, and be a valuable member of society. It also introduces the idea of incorporating service as a part their daily lives, not just for a particular time of year, but all year round.

This year, my son’s fifth grade class is encouraged to explore community service opportunities in their city. They need to complete a minimum of 4 hours and each month a team of parents offers families suggestions for different activities.

Here’s a sample of what some of our tweens have participated in so far: (more…)